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Intersection of Two Lines

The document discusses different types of intersections between geometric objects in 3D space: 1) The intersection of two lines is either a single point where they meet or they are parallel. Examples are given of finding the point of intersection between two lines defined by parametric equations. 2) The intersection of a line and a plane is a single point. An example is given of finding the point where a line intersects a plane defined by an equation. 3) The intersection of two planes can either be a single plane (if they are identical) or a line. An example is given of finding the parametric equations that define the line of intersection between two planes with given equations.

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107 views9 pages

Intersection of Two Lines

The document discusses different types of intersections between geometric objects in 3D space: 1) The intersection of two lines is either a single point where they meet or they are parallel. Examples are given of finding the point of intersection between two lines defined by parametric equations. 2) The intersection of a line and a plane is a single point. An example is given of finding the point where a line intersects a plane defined by an equation. 3) The intersection of two planes can either be a single plane (if they are identical) or a line. An example is given of finding the parametric equations that define the line of intersection between two planes with given equations.

Uploaded by

laiba shehzad
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Intersection of lines

Intersection of two lines:

Intersection of two lines is

1. Line (obvious)
2. Point

Example:

Given two lines in space, either they are parallel or they intersect each other or they are skew? If they intersect, find point of intersection.

L1: x = 3 + 2t L2: x = 1 + 4s L3: x = 3 + 2r

y = -1 + 4t y = 1 + 2s y=2+r

z=2–t z = -3 + 4s z = -2 + 2r

-∞< t <∞ -∞< s <∞ -∞< r <∞

Solution:

First we check L1 & L2

From L1: V1 = 2i + 4j – k

From L2: V2 = 4i + 2j +4k

V1 & V2 are not parallel. Hence they are not scalar multiple of each other.
Now, check if they intersect each other.

x = 3 + 2t = 1 + 4s => 2t – 4s = -2 … (1)

y = -1 + 4t = 1 + 2s => 4t – 2s = 2 …. (2)

z = 2 – t = -3 + 4s => -t – 4s = -5 …. (3)

From (1) & (2)

2t – 4s = -2

±8t –+4s = ±4 “multiply (2) by 2”

-6t = -6 “changing signs”

t=1 Put “t = 1” in (1)

2 (1) – 4s = -2

-4s = -2 -2

-4s = -4

s=1

Put “t=1”, “s=1” in (3)

-t – 4s = -5

-1 – 4 = -5
-5 = -5

L1 & L2 are intersections.

Point of intersections:

x = 3 + 2(1) = 5

y = -1 + 4 (1) = 3

z=2–1=1

So, (5, 3, 1) is point of intersection.

Now, we have to check L1 & L3.

From L1: V1 = 2i + 4j – k

From L3: V3 = 2i + j + 2k

As V1 & V3 are not parallel, so L1 & L3 are not parallel.

Now check if they intersect or not?

x = 3 +2t = 3 + 2r => 2t – 2r = 0 ….. (1)

y = -1 + 4t = 2 + r => 4t – r = 3 …… (2)

z = 2 – t = -2 + 2r => -t – 2r = -4 ….. (3)

From (1) & (3)


2t – 2r = 0

-+t – +2r = -+4

3t = 4 “changing signs”

t = 4/3

Put it in (1)

2 (4/3) – 2r = 0

8/3 = 2r

r = 8/6

r = 4/3

Put “t” & “r” in (2)

4 (4/3) – (4/3) = 3

16/3 – 4/3 = 3

12/3 = 3

4≠3

L1 & L3 are not intersections.

Now check L2 & L3.


V2 = 4i + 2j + 4k

V3 = 2i + j + 2k

V3 = 2 (2i + j + 2k)

V3 = 2 V2

V3 & V2 are parallel; therefore, L3 & L2 are parallel.

(Ex 12.5; 61 – 62)

Intersection of Line & Plane


Intersection of line & plane is

1. Line (obvious)
2. Point

Example:

Find the point where x = 8/3 + 2t, y = -2t, z = 1 + t intersects the plane 3x + 2y + 6z = 6.

Solution:

3x + 2y + 6z = 6

3(8/3 + 2t) + 2(-2t) + 6(1 + t) = 6

8 + 6t – 4t + 6 + 6t = 6

8t + 14 = 6
8t = 6 - 14

8t = -8

t = -1

The point of intersection is

x = 8/3 + 2(-1) = 2/3

y = -2(-1) =2

z = 1 + (-1) =0

Point of intersection is (2/3, 2, 0)


Intersection of two Planes
Intersection of two planes is

 Either a plane
 Or a line

Example Find the parametric equations for the line in which the planes 3x-6y-2z=15 and 2x+y-2z=5
intersect.
Solution:

As two planes are not parallel so the intersection is a line.

For the line we need a vector and point of intersection of these two planes.

The line of intersection of two planes is perpendicular to both plane normal vectors ⃗
n1 and ⃗
n2

and therefore parallel to n⃗1 × n⃗ 2.

So n⃗1 =3 i⃗ −6 ⃗j−2 k⃗

n⃗2 =2 i⃗ + ⃗j−2 ⃗k

| k⃗
|
⃗i ⃗j
⃗v =⃗n1 × n⃗2 = 3 −6 −2
2 1 −2
|
⃗v =i⃗
1 −2
−j | |
−6 −2 ⃗ 3 −2 ⃗ 3 −6
2 −2
+k | |
2 1 |
⃗v =i⃗ (12+ 2)−⃗j (−6 +4)+ ⃗k (3+12)

⃗v =14 i⃗ +2 ⃗j+15 ⃗k

To find the point of intersection we take the equations of these two planes

3x-6y-2z=15

2x+y-2z=5

As number of equations is less than the number of variables so the system of equation has infinite many solutions from these infinite many
solutions we need one solution.

Let us substitute: z=0 then the equations of planes become

3 x−6 y=15 →(1)

2 x+ y =5 →(2)

Solving equation (1) and (2) simultaneously

3 x−6 y=15

± 12 x ±6 y =±30

15 x=45

x=3

put in equation (1)


3 ( 3 )−6 y=15

−6 y=15−9

y=1

So point of intersection is

P= (3,-1,0)

Equation of line

x=x o +t v 1=3+14 t

y= y o+ t v 2 =−1+ 2t

z=z o +t v 3=0+ 15t ; −∞<t <∞

Practice Problems
Exercise: 12.5, Q# 57-60 (Thomas Calculus)

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